Pole bracket



Dec. 12, 1961 L. J. SCHERMERHORN, JR 3,012,750

POLE BRACKET Filed May 18, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 ATTORNLBYS' Dec. 12,1961 Filed May 18, 1959 L- JI SCHERMERHORN, JR

I POLE BRACKET 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR LORENZ J. SCHERMERHORN JR.

ATTORNEYS 3,312,750 Patented Dee. 12, 1961 Tine 3,h12,75ll ROLE BRACKETLorenz J. Seherrnerhorn, .112, 1143 Worden SE, Grand Rapids, Mich. FiledMay 18, 195?, Ser. No. 813,7 5 Qlaims. (Cl. 248-231) This inventionrelates to a pole bracket. More particularly, this invention relates toa bracket apparatus to be utilized for mounting signs and the like on apole.

This invention teaches a simplified manner in which signs and the likemay be mounted on a pole by use of a unique bracket structure. In thepast, when poles were made of wood, it was quite simple to mount signson such a pole. However, poles presently being installed are made ofmetal or concrete, and the problems associated with the mounting ofstreet signs, Christmas decorations and the like thereon are greatlyincreased. It is, therefore, an object of this invention to provide apole bracket adapted to be used equally well with any type of pole. 9

The bracket comprising this invention is simple in construction andadapts signs and the like to be rigidly mounted in place.

The apparatus shown and described in this invention is especiallyadvantageous in that a minimum of tools are utilized in securing thebracket to the pole. Further, the tools required are conventional. Thetime and eflort consumed in this mounting are minimal, thereby makingthe task of putting up a number of new signs a relatively easy job. Thebracket itself is simple in structure and can be simply and economicallyfabricated. The simplicity with which the bracket can be rigidly mountedon a pole constitutes the real advantage of this invention.

Other objects of this invention will become obvious to those skilled inthe bracket art upon reading the following specification in conjunctionwith the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation view of the bracket comprising this inventionpartially mounted on a pole, certain parts thereof being broken away tobetter show the inveution;

FIG. 2 is a side elevation view of the bracket comprising this inventionmounted on a pole by means of two locking bands;

FIG. 3 is a side, perspective view of the tightening bolt utilized withthe bracket shown in FIGS. 1 and 2;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of the bracket taken along the plane IVIV ofFIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a top, perspective View of a modification of the bracketcomprising this invention;

FIG. 6 is a side elevation view of the bracket shown in FIG. 5 mountedon a pole by means of two locking bands.

Briefly, this invention relates to bracket apparatus for mounting signsand the like on a pole, including a mounting plate adapted to lieagainst the pole. A supporting body extends from generally the centerportion of this mounting plate, and locking bands of a length sufiicientto circumscribe the pole and the plate are provided. One of these bandsis adapted to circumscribe the pole and the top end of the plate and theother band is adapted to circumscribe the pole and the bottom of theplate. Means for securing the ends of each of these bands together isprovided. An opening extends through the body lying generally parallelto the plate and perpendicular to the bands. A tightening bolt isslidable within this opening, the bottom of the shaft of the bolt havinga generally perpendicular slit therein. This slit envelops one end ofone of the hands when the bolt is inserted into the opening from onedirection whereby the bolt may be rotated for tightening the band aboutthe pole and the plate and the y flanges 12 along its longitudinaledges.

ends of this band then secured in tightened position. The

bolt may then be positioned within the opening from the other directionand the slit will envelop one end of the other band whereby this otherband may be similarly se cured in tightened position to secure thebracket to the pole.

Turning more specifically to the drawings, the reference numeral 1designates a pole. The reference numeral 10 designates a bracket forsupporting a sign and the like and the reference numerals and designatelocking bands forsecuring the bracket 10 to the pole 1. The referencenumeral designates a tightening bolt, the purpose of which will bedescribed hereinafter.

The bracket 10 includes a mounting plate 11 having These flanges betteradapt the mounting plate 11 to lie against poles of varyingcircumference and cross sectional configuration (FIGS. 1 and 4). Asupporting body 13 extends from generally the central portion of themounting plate 11 in a direction opposite to that of the flanges 12. Anopening 14 extends through the supporting body 13, lying longitudinallythereof and generally parallel to the mounting plate 11. The purpose ofthe opening 14 will be more fully described hereinafter.

It will be noted that a shaft for supporting an object such as a sign issecured to the supporting body 13. In-

FIG. 1, a round shaft is shown which may be threaded into the supportingbody 13. In FIG. 2, a square shaft is shown which may be secured to thesupporting body 13 by means of a set screw (not shown). The particularsupporting member is not important to this invention, which is concernedwith the mounting of the bracket itself on a pole. It is, therefore,believed that once a bracket having a supporting body is rigidly securedto a pole, the user may choose any type of member to actually supportthe object from the bracket.

Locking bands 20 and 30 rigidly secure the bracket 10 to the pole 1.These bands must be of a length suificient to circumscribe both the pole1 and the mounting plate 11. The bands may be made of any materialpossessing the chracteristics of flexibility and strength. Collars 21and 31 receive the respective ends of the bands 20 and 30 (FIGS. 2 and4). Set screws 22 and 32 are positioned within the collars 21 and 31,the purpose of these set screws being to positively secure the ends ofthe respective hands together.

A tightening bolt 40, of a size suflicient to be slidable within theopening 14 of the supporting body 13, is utilized to tighten the bands20 and 30 before securing them in tightened position by means of setscrews 22 and 32. The bolt 40 has a slit 41 in the bottom thereof, theslit 41 being generally perpendicular to the bottom of the bolt.

Assembly and Operation The bracket 10 is of one piece construction andmay be formed from any material possessing the characteristics ofstrength and durability. The flanges 12 of the bracket 10' are placedagainst a pole, the flanges lying parallel to the longitudinal axis ofthe pole. With the bracket held in this position, a band 21) ispositioned to circumscribe both the pole 1 and the top of the mountingplate 11 as shown in FIG. 1. The ends. of the band 20 are placed throughthe collar 21 (FIGS. 1 and 4). The bolt 4% is then inserted into theopening 14 of the supporting body 13, the bolt being inserted thereinfrom the bottom of the supporting body 13. One end of the band 241 isthen placed within the slit 41 of the tightening bolt 40 as shown inFIG. 1. It will now be noted that upon clockwise rotation of the bolt 40one end of the band 20 will be gripped within the slit 41 and drawnthrough the collar 21. Continued rotation of the bolt 40 will draw theband 20 into its tightest possible position, firmly securing the top ofmounting plate 11 to the pole 1.

When the band 2%) has been drawn into this tightened position, one thensimply tightens the set screw 22 which will positively secure the endsof the band together, thereby securing the band 20 in its tightenedposition. The bolt 40 is then withdrawn from the opening 14 and the toppart of the bracket 10 is positively secured to the pole 1, as shown inFIG. 4.

The band 30 is then positioned to circumscribe the pole 1 and the bottomof mounting plate 11, as shown in FIG. 2. The ends of the band 30 arethen positioned within the collar 31. It will now be noted that the bolt40 may again be inserted through the opening 14 in the supporting body13 from the opposite direction so that the slit 41 in the bolt 40 mayenvelope one end of the band 30. Upon rotation of the bolt in aclockwise position, the band 30 will also be drawn tightly around thepole 1 and the bottom of the mounting plate 11. When the bolt has beenrotated sufiiciently to tighten the band, the set screw 32 is turned tosecure the ends of the band 30 Within the collar 31. The tightening bolt40 may then again be withdrawn from the opening 14.

It will now be obvious that the bracket 10 is rigidly and positivelysecured to the pole 1. The shaft 15 can now be secured to the bracket. Asign or other similar object may then be supported from the shaft 15. Abracket has been disclosed which may be mounted upon ,any type of polevery simply and quickly. The tools needed for this mounting are merely awrench to turn the tightening bolt 40 and a screw driver or Allen wrenchfor the set screws 22 and 32. The mounting is rigid and positive. Thebracket apparatus itself is simple in construction and easy andeconomical to fabricate.

Modification The bracket shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 of the drawing disclosesa modification of the invention described. This modified bracket 10aagain includes a mounting plate 11a having flanges 12a at the backthereof for engaging a pole 1. A supporting body 13a protrudes from theface of the mounting plate 11a and the bands 20a and 30a are adapted tosecure this bracket to a pole 1. The opening 14a is the same as opening14 in bracket 10, described hereinbefore. An opening 16a is positionedhorizontally in the supporting body 13a, this opening being adapted toreceive a shaft a which may be secured therein by means of the set screw17a positioned in the side of the supporting body.

The principal diiference between this bracket and the bracket describedhereinbefore is the raised portion 50 in the mounting plate 11a. Theraised portion 50 has a pair of transversely extending slots 51 and 52adapted to receive the ends of the bands a and a. The set screws 53 and54 are mounted in the raised portion 50, positioned generallyperpendicular to the slots 51 and 52. It will now be obvious that theprinciple of operation of this bracket is the same as describedhereinbeforet However, the separate collar member has been eliminatedand the means for securing the ends of the bands together isincorporated directly into the bracket at the time of its casting. Theset screws 53 and 54 will secure the ends of the bands 20:: and 30atogether Within the slots 51 and 52 respectively.

This modification is extremely simple in construction and very durableeven though subjected to hard use. It is believed that the operation asdescribed hereinbefore will suffice to also teach the operation of thismodification. It should be obvious that the structure of thismodification exhibits the same advantages and provides the samebeneficial results as also described hereinbefore.

While only these embodiments of this invention have been shown anddescribed, certain other embodiments may be utilized to practice thisinvention without departing from the spirit and scope thereof. Suchother embodiments are to be considered a part of this invention unlessthe following claims specifically state otherwise.

I claim:

1. Bracket apparatus for mounting signs and the like on a polecomprising: a mounting plate adapted to lie against a pole; a supportingbody extending from generally the center portion of said plate; lockingbands of a length sufiicient to circumscribe the pole and said plate,one of said bands circumscribing the pole and one end of said plate andthe other band circumscribing the pole and the other end of said plate;means for securing the ends of each of said bands together; an openingextend ing through said body lying generally parallel to said plate andperpendicular to said hands; a tightening bolt slidable within saidopening, the bottom of the shaft of said bolt having a generallyperpendicular slit therein; and said slit enveloping one end of one ofsaid hands when said bolt is inserted into said opening from onedirection whereby said bolt may be rotated for tightening said one bandabout the pole and said plate and the ends of said one band secured insaid tightened position and said slit enveloping one end of the other ofsaid bands when said bolt is inserted into said opening from the otherdirection whereby said other band may be similarly secured in tightenedposition.

2. Bracket apparatus for mounting signs and the like on a polecomprising: a mounting plate adapted to lie against a pole; a supportingbody extending from generally the center portion of said plate; lockingbands of a length suflicient to circumscribe the pole and said plate,one of said bands circumscribing the pole and one end of said plate andthe other band circumscribing the pole and the other end of said plate;collars for receiving the ends of each of said bands; a set screwpositioned in each of said collars securing said ends of the respectivebands therein; an opening extending through said body lying generallyparallel to said plate and perpendicular to said bands; a tighteningbolt slidable within said opening, the bottom of the shaft of said bolthaving a generally per pendicnlar slit therein; and said slit envelopingone end of one of said bands when said bolt is inserted into saidopening from one direction whereby said bolt may be rotated fortightening said one band about the pole and said plate and the ends ofsaid one band secured in said tightened position within said collarreceiving said ends and said slit enveloping one end of the other ofsaid bands when said bolt is inserted into said opening from the otherdirection whereby said other band may be similarly secured in tightenedposition.

3. Bracket apparatus for mounting signs and the like on a polecomprising: a mounting plate having a flange along two of its oppositeedges, said flanges adapted to lie against a pole; a supporting bodyextending from generally the center portion of said plate in a directionoppositely from said flanges; locking bands of a length sufficient tocircumscribe the pole and said plate, one of said bands circumscribingthe pole and one end of said plate and the other band circumscribing thepole and the other end of said plate; collars for receiving the ends ofeach of said bands; a set screw positioned in each of said collarssecuring said ends of the respective bands therein; an opening extendingthrough said body lying generally parallel to said plate andperpendicular to said bands; a tightening bolt slidable within saidopening, the bottom of the shaft of said bolt having a generallyperpendicular slit therein; and said slit enveloping one end of one ofsaid bands when said bolt is inserted into said opening from onedirection whereby said bolt may be rotated for tightening said one bandabout the pole and said plate and the ends of said one band secured insaid tightened position within said collar receiving said ends and saidslit enveloping one end of the other of said bands when said bolt isinserted into said opening from the other direction whereby said otherband may be similarly secured in tightened position.

4. Bracket apparatus for mounting signs and the like on a polecomprising: a mounting plate adapted to lie against a pole; a supportingbody extending from generally the center portion of said plate; lockingbands of a length sufficient to circumscribe the pole and said plate;one of said bands circumscribing the pole and one end of said plate andthe other band circumscribing the pole and the other end of said plate;means on said plate for receiving the ends of each of said bands; saidscrews positioned in said means securing said ends of the respectivebands within said means; an opening extending through said body lyinggenerally parallel to said plate and perpendicular to said bands; atightening bolt slidable Within said opening, the bottom of the shaft ofsaid bolt having a generally perpendicular slit therein; and said slitenveloping one end of one of said hands when said bolt is inserted intosaid opening from one direction whereby said bolt may be rotated fortightening said one band about the pole and said plate and the ends ofsaid one band secured in tightened position Within said means and saidslit enveloping one end of the other of said bands when said bolt isinserted into said opening from the other direction whereby said otherband may be similarly secured in tightened position.

5. Bracket apparatus for mounting signs and the like on a polecomprising: a mounting plate having a flange along two of its oppositeedges, said flanges adapted to lie against a pole; a supporting bodyextending generally from the center portion of said plate in a directionoppositely from said flanges; locking bands of a length suflicient tocircumscribe the pole and said plate, one of said bands circumscribingthe pole and one end of said plate and the other band circumscribing thepole and the other end of said plate; means for receiving the ends ofeach of said bands in said plate; a set screw positioned in each of saidmeans securing said ends of the respective bands therein; an openingextending through said body lying generally parallel to said plate andperpendicular to said bands; a tightening bolt slidable Within saidopening, the bottom of the shaft of said bolt having a generallyperpendicular slit therein; and said slit enveloping one end of one ofsaid bands when said bolt is inserted into said opening from onedirection whereby said bolt may be rotated for tightening said one bandabout the pole and said plate and the ends of said one band secured insaid tightened position within said means and said slit enveloping oneend of the other of said bands when said bolt is inserted into saidopening from the other direction whereby said other band may besimilarly secured in tightened position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS

